The development of space science and technology has added a new dimension to the genetic and cytogenetic research. Numerous studies have been conducted on chromosome aberrations of organisms after exposure to radiation. Very few reports about chromosome aberrations that occur after organisms are exposed to conditions encountered during space travel exist. Higher plants provide valuable genetic assay systems for screening and monitoring environmental pollutants. Comparisons between plant and nonplant genetic assay systems indicate that higher plant assays have a high sensitivity (i.e. few false negative). Several higher plant assays are now recognized as excellent indicators of cytogenetic and mutagenic effects of environmental chemicals and are applicable to detection of environmental mutagens both indoor and outdoor. Allium cepa (onion) is an excellent plant for assay of chromosome aberrations. The onions root tip cells constitute a convenient system for macroscopic growth as well as microscopic parameters. The cells possess important activation enzymes and previous test have shown good correlation with other test systems involving genotoxicity (Geirid Fiskesjo. 1993). The P.I. will study the effects of reduced gravity and hypergravity on onion root meristematic cells followed by the consequences of variable gravity on the shoot meristems, organogenesis, sporogenesis, pollen fertility, development of gametophytes, endosperm and embryo. Onions used in the 2000 Reduced Gravity Student Flight Opportunity Project will be used to collect pilot data for this study. These data will then be compared to the baseline data on Allium cepa, some of which exists in the literature and other to be collected concurrently during the course of this project.
| Mail: | Dr. Tasneem F. Khaleel |
|
Department of Biological and Physical Sciences |
| Montana State University - Billings | |
| Billings, MT 59101 |
| E-mail: | Tkhaleel@msubillings.edu |
| Phone: | (406) 657-2017 |
| FAX: | (406) 657-2187 |
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